FAZILKA, April 23— A 19-year-old was shot dead outside the Fazilka district court complex on Tuesday, minutes after exiting a hearing in connection with a long-standing dispute, police said.
The victim, identified as Sahilpreet Singh, sustained a gunshot wound to the head when a group of assailants intercepted the car he was traveling in. “As soon as the vehicle came out of the court complex, it was hit by another car. The suspects opened fire at close range,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varinder Brar.
Singh was rushed to a nearby government hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.
His mother alleged her son had received threats five days prior through social media, warning him of an attack during his court appearance. “We told the police, but nothing was done. They failed to protect him,” she said outside the hospital.
Following the shooting, Deputy Superintendent of Police Tarsem Masih reached the scene, and security was reinforced around the court area.
Police have booked 11 identified suspects—Baljeet Singh, Pritpal Singh, Palli, Sunny, Happy, Goldy, Parkash, Gubhaj, Sajan, Sahil Jossan, and Billu—under Sections 103 (murder), 351(2), 191(3), and 190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), in addition to Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. “Some unidentified individuals have also been named in the FIR,” said SSP Brar.
Investigations are underway, and authorities are examining CCTV footage from the area to trace the suspects’ route.
